Vuelta 2018 Favourites stage 19: Clash on long final climb

The Vuelta a España's 19th stage revolves around the final haul up. Following a false flat route of 134 kilometer the Coll de la Rabassa is the only obstacle. The climb amounts to 17.5 kilometres and is averaging 6.3%. Attackers or GC contenders? (Slideshow route/profile)

Following a relatively easy day in the foothills of the Pyrenees the Coll de la Rabassa kicks in hard. The first kilometre features some stretches of 13% and more before the second kilometre is a false flat. Until kilometre 6 the Rabassa is an energy sapping monster, but then the climb mellows out with gradients mostly fluctuating between 3 and 5%.

Big question in advance obviously is the lead with which the breakaway hits the Rabassa. And whether there are any good climbers on board or not. As the route is mostly flat until the final climb you don’t need to possess climbing legs to be able to make it into the break. But to win… that is something else.

As the big names on GC are still close together, we should expect them to battle for the stage win – if only for the time bonuses at the top.